ITTA BENA, Miss. --- The Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils finished their 2015 campaign, with a 25-19 overtime loss to the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions.
"It was a hard fought game right to end. It was our second overtime game in a row. We won the first and lost the last. Our players are battling until the end now, which means victories in Valley Football's future."
UAPB won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. MVSU's drive ended on a blocked punt. The Golden Lions found the end zone first, scoring a 14-yard run to cap off an eight play 64-yard drive. In the second, Pine Bluff landed a 29-yard field goal, to enter halftime up 10-0.
The Golden Lions' Cody Swain pulled down an 18-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brandon Duncan; Jamie Gillan's kick was no good, taking UAPB up 16-0. Mississippi Valley used a lateral from Slade Jarman to Booker Chambers, in which Chambers launched the ball to Keenan Daniels for a 31-yard touchdown. Ruben Piraquive's point after unsuccessful due to strong wind gusts.
Chambers scored on an eight-yard pass from Jarman. Piraquive's kick was unsuccessful, halting the score at 16-12. UAPB landed a 32-yard field goal to increase their lead to 19-12, at the beginning of the first.
Jarman went 6-20-1 for 62 yards for the day. Thomas Stokes, Jr. paced the Delta Devils with 44 net rushing yards on 15. DeMarius Howard led MVSU in receiving with 29-yards on two receptions. LeTrey Jones scored a pick six on a 38-yard interception return. Piraquive added the extra point to tie the contest at 19.
In the overtime period, the Golden Lions won the toss and elected to be on defense. MVSU was unable to enter the end zone after being riddled with penalties. UAPB's Brain Handley scored on an eight-yard run to win the game, 25-19 for Pine Bluff.
Defensively, Khalil Young tallied 12 total tackles (7 solo and five assist) and 2.5 tackles for a loss of four yards to pace Mississippi Valley. Adam Hamilton finished with ten tackles, seven solo and three assists. Farrean Toney and LeTrey Jones each completed the contest seven total tackles each, four solo and three assists, Toney registered 0.5 tackle for a loss of two yards, while Jones contributed 1.0 tackles for a loss of three yards and an interception.
